<a href="http://www.kent.edu/" target="_blank">Kent State University</a> just picked <a href="http://www.weissmanfredi.com/" target="_blank">Weiss/Manfredi</a> as the winner of a design competition to build the University's new architecture building. The architects' proposal for the center is a transparent terraced building that is topped with a green roof. Sited at the crossroads between the city and the campus, the <a href="http://www.weissmanfredi.com/project/kent-state-design-loft" target="_blank">Design Loft</a> is a gallery of ascending spaces that seamlessly connect studios, classrooms, meeting areas and critique areas, and it can evolve as modalities of education and design change over the years.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

Weiss/Manfredi was one of four firms competing an an international design competition to build the coveted architecture school building.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

Beating out Bialosky &amp; Partners of Cleveland with Architecture Research Office of New York; The Collaborative of Toledo with Miller Hull Partnership of Seattle; and Westlake Reed Leskosky of Cleveland, New York-based <a href="http://www.kent.edu/news/newsdetail.cfm?newsitem=CADA8A49-B305-FEC1-C62C4C54126393FC" target="_blank">Weiss/Manfredi was selected</a> because their design was striking, innovative and achieved a high level of sustainability.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

You can read more about the other designs at <a href="http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2013/01/the_weissmanfredi_concept_is_t.html" target="_blank">Cleveland.com</a>.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

The Design Loft will bring together all the architecture facilities and classrooms from three separate buildings into this one cohesive project.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

The Design Loft is based upon the idea of a continuous studio loft that winds through a series of tiered spaces.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

The lower end engages the scale of the city and connects with a broad park. Rising up towards the school, the building's massing and materials resembles that of the surrounding campus.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

A continuous staircase on the north facade serves a dual purpose as an amphitheater, opens to generous and even northern light and connects to the open critique spaces, which encourages impromptu discussions.

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

Overall the project works to maximize natural daylight and minimize overall energy use. According to <a href="http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/58213" target="_blank">A|N Blog</a>, the design team is also investigating shading alternatives for their tiered glass box design. W

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Kent State Loft-Weiss Manfredi

Kent State University just picked Weiss/Manfredi as the winner of a design competition to build the University's new architecture building. The architects' proposal for the center is a transparent terraced building that is topped with a green roof. Sited at the crossroads between the city and the campus, the Design Loft is a gallery of ascending spaces that seamlessly connect studios, classrooms, meeting areas and critique areas, and it can evolve as modalities of education and design change over the years.